The only questions about Flores are when and where.

Infielder Wilmer Flores and first baseman Allan Dykstra are headed to their respective league’s all-star games this year – Flores in Triple-A and Dykstra in Double-A. Each player took a different path to get to where they are now, and may still take a different path to the majors. Let’s take a look where these two might end up in the Mets plans.

Wilmer Flores

Flores has steadily grown more comfortable at the Triple-A level, and he’s starting to make it look easy. On Tuesday, he went 5-6 with 2 doubles. He’s hitting .320/.357/.520 this year with 27 doubles, 4 triples, 10 home runs, and 64 RBIs. Sandy Alderson considers him a propsect, and that’s not going out on a limb.

The 6’3″, 190 lb Flores was signed out of Venezuela at the ripe old age of 16. It feels like he’s been in the Mets farm system forever, but even after 6 seasons in the minor leagues, he’s still only 21 (turning 22 on August 6th).

He projected to fill out into a Miguel Cabrera-type frame, and that still may be a possibility. He doesn’t have Cabrera’s power as of now, but there’s no question he can hit. And his 41 extra base hits this year shows that he’s no slap hitter.

Sure, the Mets lost yesterday, but I’m still fired up about Matt Harvey.

Triple-A Las Vegas started their season last night, and Zack Wheeler struggled with his command.  Considering how little he pitched in March, this is still his Spring Training, so there’s no need to panic.  C Travis d’Arnaud went 2 for 4 and 2B Wilmer Flores had a 3 for 3 night.

Double-A Binghamton also opened their season, and starting pitcher Rafael Montero looked every bit as polished as people in the Mets organization say he is.  He struck out nearly half of the batters he faced, allowing just a pair of singles, and tossing 75% of his pitches for strikes (63 of 84).

As for the parent club, they have an opportunity to continue their fast start with the retooling Marlins coming to Queens this weekend.  In order to do so, Jeremy Hefner is going to have to prove he belongs in the major league rotation.  This is especially important considering Shaun Marcum seems to come down with a new malady every day.

Loge 13 has an interesting piece on the designs of the “convertible” Shea Stadium.

And finally, here’s Orioles slugger Chris Davis with a monkey.

The Mets begin their weekend series with the Marlins tonight at Citi Field.  Stay tuned to Mets Today for coverage.

The Mets have won two stunners in a row against the rival (still, I guess) Phillies.  First, a Jordany Valdespin homer off of Jonathan Papelbon helped them overcome a good start by Roy Halladay.  Then, a series of 2-out singles and some Phillies Phielding Phollies helped the Mets beat the red hot Joe Blanton 7-4.  What will they do for an encore in the final game of the series?  Maybe a two-out rally in the 9th?  Or maybe get a lead and hold it throughout the game – that would be novel.

Here’s some late-inning magic from the Blogs:

• Metstradamus says the Phillies’ ugliness outweighed the Mets’ ugliness.
• NJ.com says Howard Johnson tweeted some heavy advice for Ike Davis.
• Andrew Fiorentino reports that Wilmer Flores may finally be breaking out in the minors.
• MMO wonders if Jenrry Mejia is nearing a spot in the Mets rotation, as he begins his rehab assignment season in St. Lucie.
• Real Dirty Mets infamously tells us what the Mets and Aretha Franklin may have in common.
• Daily Stache looks at the ball that bounced off of Mookie’s bat, between Buckner’s legs, and into an auction in Dallas.

Follow the bouncing ball to Mets Today for more news, analysis, opinion, and yes…links.